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Canada census head quits in fight with government
Source: Agencies |
July 22, 2010, Thursday
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CANADA'S top statistician abruptly quit yesterday, saying he cannot support the Conservative government's controversial plan to change how data will be collected in next year's census.
Ottawa set off a firestorm late last month by quietly announcing Statistics Canada would scrap its mandatory detailed long-form census, which is sent to 20 percent of all households.
The government says the mandatory requirement violates privacy but the decision has been criticized by business and social groups who say it will deprive the public of information needed for planning purposes.
Statistics Canada chief statistician Munir Sheikh said the government's plan to make it voluntary to answer questions while sending the form to more people was not an adequate substitute for collecting information.
The government said it accepted Sheikh's resignation "with regret" but stood by its decision on the census.
"The government took this decision because we do not believe Canadians should be forced, under threat of fines, jail, or both, to divulge extensive private and personal information," Industry Minister Tony Clement said.
Government ministers publicly defending the census changes in recent days have complained in particular about questions on the form asking people how many bathrooms and bedrooms they have in their house or apartment.
Most citizens receive a short version of the census that requires them to answer only limited questions.
Some Statistics Canada employees have complained to the media that the Conservatives have cut or curtailed several major surveys since the party took power in 2006 in an effort to reduce the amount of analysis the agency does.
Ottawa set off a firestorm late last month by quietly announcing Statistics Canada would scrap its mandatory detailed long-form census, which is sent to 20 percent of all households.
The government says the mandatory requirement violates privacy but the decision has been criticized by business and social groups who say it will deprive the public of information needed for planning purposes.
Statistics Canada chief statistician Munir Sheikh said the government's plan to make it voluntary to answer questions while sending the form to more people was not an adequate substitute for collecting information.
The government said it accepted Sheikh's resignation "with regret" but stood by its decision on the census.
"The government took this decision because we do not believe Canadians should be forced, under threat of fines, jail, or both, to divulge extensive private and personal information," Industry Minister Tony Clement said.
Government ministers publicly defending the census changes in recent days have complained in particular about questions on the form asking people how many bathrooms and bedrooms they have in their house or apartment.
Most citizens receive a short version of the census that requires them to answer only limited questions.
Some Statistics Canada employees have complained to the media that the Conservatives have cut or curtailed several major surveys since the party took power in 2006 in an effort to reduce the amount of analysis the agency does.
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